Taxi driver rapists go on Christmas party prowl

A young woman has spoken for the first time about her rape ordeal at the hands of a taxi driver.

Rachel (not her real name) collapsed on a stranger's doorstep after escaping from the driver following his brutal attack.

"No words can describe what myself and my family are presently going through," she said. "I have lost faith in everything and everyone. The worst thing of all is that this man is still out there, waiting for women just like me."

Rachel, 21, was found semi-naked and unconscious.

Police last week warned women to be wary of taxi drivers during the Christmas party season.

The warning was sparked by the stories of Rachel and two other women who have been victims of taxi drivers in the past month. And while the NSW Taxi Industry has pleaded for people not to panic, more attacks have been reported to counsellors at the NSW Rape Crisis Centre.

Rachel, who was attacked at Maroubra on November 7, said: "I knew I was likely to drink after work so I did the responsible thing and left my car at home.

"At the end of the evening, I did the responsible thing again and hailed a cab in Kings Cross.

"I gave the driver directions and then, presuming I was on my way home, dozed in and out of sleep.

"But a little later I looked out of the window and had no idea where I was.

"I asked the driver 'Where are you taking me?' He replied, 'Don't worry, it's a short cut, everything's going to be OK.' "

Rachel said the driver then stopped the car, leant over to the back seat and groped her.

"I panicked and fled the car," Rachel said. "But as I was running, I fell down. And, while I had no idea where I was, I was surrounded by long grass."

Police have since confirmed the taxi driver lured Rachel to Heffron Park in Robey Street, Maroubra.

"I found myself on my back," she said. "He groped me, grabbed my breasts and kept trying to take my clothes off. I tried to fight but he was too strong. He penetrated me with his hand."

Rachel broke free but when she finally found a nearby house, the occupants refused to open the door because they were scared by the commotion.

"They apparently called the police. When the officers arrived, I was found lying unconscious beside the front door, with no top on. The next thing I remember, I was in hospital."

Maroubra police are investigating Rachel's complaint.

They are also investigating a November 2 incident in which a driver climbed into the back seat to sexually assault his passenger.

Opposition transport spokesman Mike Gallacher has called for an inquiry.

He said: "You try to drum into your kids that catching a taxi is the safest thing they can do but the police now tell us otherwise. If we can't rely on cabs to deliver our youngsters home safely, who can we rely on?"

NSW Rape Crisis Centre manager Karen Willis confirmed she had received several complaints.

"It is a sad reflection on our society when women are asked to alter their behaviour because the only safe way of making it home has suddenly turned dangerous," she said.

"The police warning should not have been directed towards women, it should have gone out to the cab companies."

A Ministry of Transport spokesman said: "It's a complex industry in many ways. Drivers are able to come and go, which is an obvious advantage to them through periods of unemployment.

"But it does also present particular challenges and the ministry is currently looking at ways to improve the levels of service Sydney people get."